Yarn winding machine



Jan. 3 l, 1967 s. FURST YARN WINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 23, 1964 Jan.3l, 1967 s. FURST 3,301,496

7 YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 3T a i 35A I I I -r- FY? 33 /0-// United States Patent C) 3,301,496 YARN WINDINGMACHINE Stefan Furst, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany, assignor to WaiterReiners, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,693Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 22, 1963, R 34 9 12 Claims.(or. 24z s7 the rotating wound package or take-up spool is braked inorder to repair the yarn break or substitute a new supply coil,respectively, and is driven in the opposite direction for a short timein order to seize the broken yarn end with a suction device andthereafter to knot that end with the other end of the broken yarn or ofthe new supply coil, as the case may be.

There are various possible ways of braking and of reversing the rotationof the take-up spool. Either the rotating yarn-guiding drum for thetake-up spool is braked and oppositely rotated for a short time so thatthe take-up spool follows this reversed rotation due to frictionalengagement therewith, or the position of the take-up spool is altered insuch a manner that it is transferred from frictional engagement with theforwardly rotating yarn-guiding drum directly to a reversely rotatingroller or first'intermediately to a stationary braking member.Independently of whether the take-up spool is transferred directly tothe oppositely rotating roller or first transferred to a stationarybraking member, in either case, there arises the disadvantage that theupper surface of the take-up spool is damaged because of friction whenit runs up against the stationary member or even more so when it comesinto contact with the roller rotating in the opposite direction. a

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a winding machinewhich avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of the known machines and,particularly, damage to the yarn of the take-up spool due to friction.

To this end and in accordance with a feature of my invention, I providea yarn winding machine with braking and/or oppositely rotating rollshaving a friction clutch or brake. In accordance with another aspect ofmy invention, the friction value of the friction clutch is madeadjustable. The friction value of the clutch is selected so that thebraking moment of the stationary or oppositely rotating rollers againstthe clutch is somewhat after only a slight sliding or slippage at thetake-up spool surface. Thus the yarn surface essentially'rolls up on thebraking or counter-rotating member, since with the exception of theslippage in the first moment of engagement until the roller isaccelerated to the rotational speed of the take-up spool, the slidingfriction is absorbed in suitable wear-resistant elements. The frictionbetween the take-up spool and the roller is proportional to the weightor diameter of the take-up spool. In order to ice make allowance forthis friction, the friction value of the friction clutch is adjustablein accordance with the weight or diameter of the spool. It is arelatively simple matter to apply my invention to winding machines ofthe type in which the pressure of the take-up spool against the rolleris maintained at constant value independently of the weight of thespool.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied ina yarn-winding machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionand within the scope and range of equivalence of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic side elevational view of a yarn-windingmachine station according to the invention, some of the components beingomitted for the purpose of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of severalcoacting components of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship of the peripheral speed ofthe take-up spool to the duration of braking when the braking member isnot provided with a clutch;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the peripheral speed of the braking rollerwhich is provided with a clutch in accordance with my invention withrespect to the duration of braking and its relationship to theperipheral speed of the take-up spool during the same period; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections betweenthe yarn guard or feeler and the take-up spool braking mechanism.

"is also provided which, in the case shown in FIG. 1,

swings out when the yarn is broken or the supply coil 1 is depleted andconnects the electrical circuit to a power source 8 by means of thecontacts 6, 7 so that a motor 9 is energized to drive the cam 12 in thedirection of the arrow through the agency of the meshing gear pair 10,11. A rotary switch mechanism shown in FIG. 5, is provided on the shaft11a of the gear 11 or the cam 12 to shut off the motor 9 after a singleturn of the gear 11 on the cam 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever orfollower arm 13a of a bell-crank or double-arm lever slides on theperipheral surface of the cam 12 and when the bell-crank lever swingsabout the shaft 14, the other lever arm 13b thereof swings the take-upspool 4 by means of the arm 15,- which is secured to the shaft on whichthe take-up spool is mounted, from the broken-line position of thetake-up spool to the solid-line position in which it engages the brakingroller 16. When the rotary speed of the take-up spool 4 has been slowedalmost to zero, then the cam 12 causes the lever arms 13a, 13b again toswing slightly in a clockwise direction so that the take-up spool 4comes into contact with the roller 18 which is rotating in the oppositedirection. When the rotary direction of the take-up spool 4 is reversed,the yarn from the surface of-the take-up spool'4 is unwound slightly andcan be gripped by means of a vacuum nozzle 17, shown only fragmentarilyin FIG. 1 to avoid obscuring other details. A representative vacuumnozzle yarn seizing device of this general type is shown in my PatentNo. 3,077,312. All of therelatively stationary components, for examplethe mounting peg of the supply coil or cop 1, the yarn tension'er 2, theshaft of the yarn guard 5, the yarn guide drum 3, the counter-rotatingroller 18 as well as the shafts 11a, 14, 21 and the motor 9 are mountedin a suitable manner on the winding machine frame 19 in substantiallysimilar relationship to each other as that shown in my Patent Nos.3,003,478 and 3,092,340.

In order to avoid large frictional losses between the take-up spool 4and the braking roller 16, the roller has a hollow construction and isconsequently of relatively small mass, for example as shown in FIG. 2.The surface 20 of the roller 16 comes into contact with the take-upspool 4 and is freely rotatable on the bearings 20a and 201; about theshaft 21 which is suitably mounted on the frame 19. The bearing 20a issupported against a fixed abutment 22 connected to the shaft 21, whilethe bearing 20]) faces a counter bearing 23 which, though connected withthe shaft 21 is nevertheless axially displaceable thereon by thewell-known pin and groove arrangement such as is illustrated in FIG. 2.This counter bearing 23 is biased into engagement with the bearing 20bbymeans of a compression spring 24 and a set collar or adjusting ring25.

When the take-up spool 4 is transferred into engagement with the surface20 of the braking roller 16, the latter is first of all taken along orentrained therewith so that sliding occurs between the bearings 20a and20b on the one hand and the counter bearings or abutments 22 and 23 onthe other hand. The amount of backlash or .sliding depends upon thefrictional force which exists between the components 20a and 22 or 20band 23. This frictional force can be adjusted with the adjusting ring25. After sliding between the components 20a and 22 as well as 20b and23has ceased, the roller 20 and and shaft 21 act together as a rotatingunit.

The frictional force can be adjusted by hand, and it is possible to lockthe adjusting ring 25, for example, with a tightened screw (not shown)on the shaft 21. It is, however, also possible to automatically alterthe position of the adjusting ring 25 and thereby the amount offrictional force between the roller bearings 20a, 20b and the abutments22, 23, respectively, in proportion to the di ameter of the woundtake-up spool 4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there isprovided a flexible adjusting member or Bowden wire whose tubular sheath26 is secured at one end to a curved arm 130 of the bell crank lever13a, 13b and at the other end to an arm 27 fixed to the shaft 14. Theposition of the flexible wire push-pull member 26a, connected at one endto the lever arm 28a and at the other end to the spool-carrying arm 15,within the sheath of the Bowden wire 26 depends upon the location of thearm 15. The more fully wound the take-up spool 4, the farther will themember 26a extend from the arm 15 into the tubular adjusting member 26and exert pressure on the arm 28a of the double lever 28a, 28b and causeit to pivot clockwise as viewed in FIG. '2. The arm 28b of this doublelever then presses against the adjusting ring 25, if necessary throughthe intermedi- :ary of a compression bearing (not shown), so that thespring 24 is placed under greater compression, the larger the diameterof the take-up spool 4. The frictional force :for braking the surfaceztlof the roller 16 thereby also varies with the diameter of the take-upspool 4.

FIG. 3 shows a graph in which the peripheral speed v of the take-upspool decreases gradually to zero during the braking interval t. Theentire hatched area represents backlash or sliding at the yarn surfaceof the take-up spool which occurs due to the fact that the brakingroller is not provided with a clutch for reducing the sliding friction.

In FIG. 4 there is shown the relationship of the peripheral speed v tothe time t of braking, in. which the curve Sp represents the peripheralspeed of the take-up spool 4 and the curve R represents the peripheralspeed of the roller 16. Immediately after instituting the braking actionthe rotational speed of the braking roller which is provided with aclutch in accordance with my invention, increases to at leastapproximately the speed of the take-up spool and then either togetherwith the spool or with a very slight mutual sliding, is slowed down withthe spool to a speed of zero. The sliding between the take-up spool 4and the braking roller 16 occurring in this case is only the relativelysmaller hatched area of FIG. 4 as compared to FIG. 3. Since the brakingmoment of the friction clutch is somewhat smaller than the brakingmoment resulting from the peripheral friction between the take-up spooland the braking roller, the braking curve in its entirety follows aslightly flatter course so that, as is shown in FIG. 4, the brakingprocess consumes a longer period of time.

Although the clutch has been described herein as a friction clutch,other types of clutches such as a magnetic clutch for example, areintended to be and are included within the scope of my invention.

Furthermore, the clutch can be provided for the counterrotating roller18 in the same manner instead of, or in addition to, being provided forthe roller 16.

In my Patents Nos. 3,033,478 and 3,092,340, I describe a winding machinein which a yarn take-up spool is rotated in one direction and thenoppositely rotated indirectly through the yarn guide drum by means of anintermediate friction roller or idler which is pivotable into engagementsimultaneously with the yarn guide drum and with the one and then theother of the counterrotating rollers. In the present invention, on theother hand, the take-up spool 4 is rotated in a forward direction onlyby the yarn guide drum 3 which is independently rotated clockwise, asshown in FIG. 1, by any suitable means, and is directly placed inengagement successively with the braking roller. 16 and thecounter-rotating roller 18.

In my aforementioned Patent No. 3,033,478, -I have provided a completelymechanical device for effecting a single turn of the cam so that thetake-up spool is rotated in reverse to permit the yarn end to be seized.Such a device can, of course, also be employed in the present inventionfor causing the take-up spool 4 to engage the counter-rotating roller 18so as to reverse its rotation during one turn of the cam 12.

In the embodiment of this invention, however, I utilize anelectromechanical device for effecting the single turn. As showndiagrammatically in FIG. 5, alternating current from a main power lineis stepped down by the transformer 8a and converted to direct current bythe rectifier '8. Upon the breakage of yarn or depletion of the supplycoil 1, the yarn guard or feeler 5 swings outwardly and closes thecontacts 6, 7, applying voltage to a coil 31 of a relay CR whichactuates the contacts 32, 3-3 to close the circuit that energizes themotor 9 from the main power line. Simultaneously therewith, aself-holding contact 34 is closed. As the motor 9 begins to rotate thecontrol cam 12 (FIG. 1), a switching cam 12a of the single-turnmechanism, suitably mounted for example coaxially with the control cam12, opens a contact 36 and closes a contact 37. The yarn guard contacts6, 7 are now rendered inactive, and the relay coil 31 remains energizeduntil the single turn is completed. Then the cam 12a opens contact 37and closes contact 36 thereby interrupting the self-holding circuit ofrelay CR so that the motor stops.

I claim:

1. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, braking rollermeans, means for bringing said rotating take-up spool and said brakingroller means into mutual engagement so as to brake said rotating take-upspool, and clutch means cooperating with said braking roller means forreducing sliding friction between said take-up spool and said brakingroller means.

2. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, bra-king rollermeans, means for bringing said rotating take-up spool and said brakingroller means into mutual engagement so as to brake said rotating take-upspool, and friction clutch means frictionally engaging said brakingroller means for reducing sliding friction between said take-up spooland said braking roller means.

3. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, braking rollermeans, means for bringing said rotating take-up spool and said brakingroller means into mutual engagement so as to brake said rotating take-upspool, friction clutch means frictionally engaging said braking rollermeans for reducing sliding friction between said take-up spool and saidbraking roller means, and means for adjusting the frictional forcebetween said clutch and said braking roller means.

4. In a yarn Winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, braking rollermeans, means for bringing said rotating take up spool and said brakingroller means into mutual engagement so .as to brake said rotatingtake-up spool, friction clutch means frictionally engaging said brakingroller means for reducing sliding friction between said take-up spooland said braking roller means, and means for adjusting the frictionalforce between said clutch and said braking roller means in proportion tothe weight of said take-up spool.

5. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating takeaup spool, braking rollermeans, means for bringing said rotating take-up spool and said brakingroller means into mutual engagement so as to brake said rotating take-upspool, friction clutch means friction-ally engaging said braking rollermeans for reducing sliding friction between said take-up spool and saidbraking roller means, and means for adjusting the frictional forcebetween said clutch and said braking roller means relative to thediameter of said take-up spool.

6. In a yarn Winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, a stationaryidler roller spaced from said rotating take-up spool, means for bringingsaid rotating take-up spool and said idler roller into mutual engagementso as to brake said rotating take-up spool, and clutch means cooperatingwith said idler roller for reducing sliding friction between saidtake-up spool and said idler roller.

7. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, braking rollermeans comprising a stationary idler roller and a counter-rotating rollerrotating in the same rotary direction as said rotating take-up spool,said rollers being spaced from one another and from said rotatingtake-up spool, means for bringing said rotating take-up spool intosuccessive mutual engagement with said rollers so as to brake saidrotating take-up spool and reverse its direction of rotation, and clutchmeans cooperating with at least one of said rollers for reducing slidingfriction between said take-up spool and said one roller.

'8. In a yarn winding machine, a rotating take-up spool, braking rollermeans including means for reversing the rotary direction of said take-upspool spaced therefrom, means for bringing said rotating take-up spooland said braking roller means into mutual engagement so as to brake saidrotating take-up spool and reverse its rotary direction, and clutchmeans cooperating with said braking roller means for reducing slidingfriction between said take-up spool and said braking roller means.

9. In a yarn winding machine, a freely rotating take-up spool, brakingroller means comprising a shaft, a stationary idler roller mounted onsaid shaft and freely rotatable with respect to said shaft, means forbringing said rotating take-up spool and said idler roller into mutualengagement whereby said idler roller is entrained by said rotatingtake-up spool and is rotated about said shaft so as to brake saidrotating take-up spool, and clutch means comprising at least oneabutment member mounted on said shaft, said abutment member beingfrictionally engageable with said idler roller so as to reduce slidingfriction between said take-up spool and said idler roller.

10. A yarn winding machine according to claim 9 including means foradjusting the frictional force between said abutment member and saidroller.

11. A yarn winding machine according to claim 10, wherein said adjustingmeans comprises a compression spring biasing said abutment member intoengagement with said idler roller and a linkage system applying pressureto said spring for varying the biasing force of said spring in relationto the diameter of said take-up spool.

12. A yarn winding machine according to claim 10 wherein said brakingroller means includes a counterrotating roller spaced from said idlerroller and said take-up spool, said means for bringing said take-upspool and said idler roller into mutual engagement comprising asingle-turn mechanism including a cam, means for giving said cam asingle turn and follower means operatively connected to said take-upspool, said follower means being guided by said cam to operatively bringsaid take-up spool into engagement with said counter-rotating roller forreversing the original direction of rotation of said take-up spoolduring a single turn of said cam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,381 5/ L892Hagadorn et a1 242-455 594,688 11/ 1897 Gue et al. '1 8825 2,992,7857/1961 Pitts 242--35.6 3,081,046 3/ 1963 Barnes et al 242-86 STANLEY N.GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, W. S. BURDEN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A YARN WINDING MACHINE, A ROTATING TAKE-UP SPOOL, BRAKING ROLLERMEANS, MEANS FOR BRINGING SAID ROTATING TAKE-UP SPOOL AND SAID BRAKINGROLLER MEANS INTO MUTUAL ENGAGEMENT SO AS TO BRAKE SAID ROTATING TAKE-UPSPOOL, AND CLUTCH MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID BRAKING ROLLER MEANS FORREDUCING SLIDING FRICTION BETWEEN SAID TAKE-UP SPOOL AND SAID BRAKINGROLLER MEANS.